Hart vs De Gea: Why Man City man’s mistakes are keeping him in United stopper’s shadow

Joe Hart

Public perception is such an elusive and fleeting phenomenon. People can get so tightly wrapped up in their own opinions, but their outlook may completely change within a week. This can be the case with just about anything and football is ripe for such switching.

Of course, in the narrative of football there has to be a rupture in the equilibrium – the norm – which people react to, and goalkeepers have arguably the toughest job of keeping the perception of them at a consistent level.

Manchester City’s Joe Hart is experiencing such a situation at the present moment. Numerous high-profile errors have had his abilities called into question as pundits and fans call for the rarely-pressured goalkeeper to be dropped. Quite literally a crisis of faith.

Costly errors against Cardiff City and Bayern Munich this season have only worsened his position after attracting criticism in matches with Real Madrid, Poland, Scotland, Southampton and West Ham in the last 18 months or so.

Throughout his young career Hart has been called “cocky”, yet this season his state of mind appears to be considerably different as he seems unsure in himself and devoid of confidence.

When one thinks back to former City assistant manager David Platt’s comments in the summer it is perhaps a little easier to see why, as he claimed Roberto Mancini had already identified Asmir Begovic as Hart’s replacement (source: The Daily Mail).

Many have said that the England international needs to emulate Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who, after much castigation following his move from Atletico Madrid, settled down and focused.

Perhaps those people are right, but there is a fine line between a great save and an expensive error. Those mistakes do not necessarily tell the whole story.

After seven Premier League matches this season, Hart has a better average record than he achieved in several areas last term, but where does he stand in relation to De Gea as well?

So far he has completed 93 per cent of his ball claims, 6% more than last season, while De Gea’s stake in that area sits at 86%.

Hart is also managing more average saves per game than last season. Currently he is making 1.43 per match, compared to 1.23 last term, but in this part De Gea’s 1.71 sees him way ahead.

Joe Hart’s saves per game this season

De Gea’s average saves per game this season

Neither United or City have started the season particularly well and their respective defensive team-mates will be partly responsible for that, with De Gea letting nine goals past him and Hart one fewer.

The Spaniard may have let in one more than his counterpart, but he is also pulling off more average saves per goal with 1.33, with Hart registering 1.25.

De Gea saves per goal this season so far

What is abundantly clear is that Hart certainly seems to have regressed since that excellent 2011/12 season, with a growing list of clangers as evidence. He still remains a good goalkeeper, but he has slipped from the bracket of the very best.

De Gea, however, is rising towards it. Why? The competition of Anders Lindegaard appeared to help and since initially finding himself replaced by the Dane, he has hardly been out of the side.

Reports have linked Malaga’s Willy Caballero with a move and in the case of De Gea, meaningful competition and a challenge to his comfortable position could be wake-up call that is needed.